Gyalten Khen Rinpoche, Abbot Lama Gaun Monastery
Gyalten Khen Rinpoche is a founder and abbot of Lama Gaun Tashi Rapten Monastery. He has been steadfast and highly dedicated to fulfilling the wishes of his master, H. E. Chöden Rinpoche in making his vision of building and securing a monastery for young monks, life-long meditators and international students to become immersed in the Buddha’s evolutionary teachings of the mind and heart. Khen Rinpoche has worked tirelessly in making the dream of Lama Gaun a reality. As abbot, he is involved in the overall direction and future growth of the monastery.
Biography of Gyalten Khen Rinpoche, Spiritual Director Awakening Vajra International
Gyalten Khen Rinpoche was born June 27, 1966 in Bomdia and moved to Lhasa, Tibet. While in his mother’s womb he received his Dharma name, Tseten Gelek, from H. E. Choden Rinpoche. His grandmother, mother and father had irreversible great faith for and devo- tion to H. E. Choden Rinpoche. They served Rinpoche authentically while he was in Tibet, in solitary retreat for 19 years.
Since childhood, Geshe la had a strong wish to become a monk. In 1985, he left Tibet for India to meet H.H. the Dalai Lama, and re- ceived his blessing, and advice. The Dalai Lama advised him to study in Dharamsala, India, where he studied modern Western subjects, became the top academic student in his class, and excelled at sports. Khen Rinpoche was well known as a fine orator and debater among his Tibetan peers in India at this time.
Khen Rinpoche became a monk in 1990, receiving ordination from H. E. Choden Rinpoche who took him as a close personal student. He is often referred to as Rinpcohe’s “Heart Son.” Under Rinpoche’s guidance and instruction at Sera Monastery, Khen Rinpoche learned the Five Great Classical Treaties of Buddhist Philosophy: The Perfection of Wisdom, Middle Way, Logic and Reason, Treasury of Knowledge and Vinaya (monastic discipline) as well as Lam Rim, Mind Training, Tibetan Medicine and Tantra. In 2005, Gyalten Khen Rinpoche received the Geshe Degree (equivalent to a PhD in Buddhism).
For more than a decade, Geshe la (a term of endearment and utmost respect given by his students) traveled with Rinpoche worldwide assisting Rinpoche and helping to share his extensive knowledge of Buddhist philosophy, meditation, Tibetan medicine, and yoga. Khen Rinpoche speaks five languages: Tibetan, English, Hindi, Chinese and Italian. He is, according to his thousands of students from many countries, modest, kind, patient, sincere, funny and filled with divine energy, a true and devoted disciple of H. E. Chöden Rinpoche. As his heart son, Khen Rinpoche has taken on the joyous task of spreading the vision and mission of H. E. Chöden Rinpoche.
Gyalten Khen Rinpoche is the Spiritual Director of Awakening Vajra International, Abbot of Lama Gaun Tashi Rabten Monastery and spiritual guide for various centers throughout the world. He is the author of, Immovable, Like a Mountain and The Mind of Calm Abiding. His teachings, pilgrimages and retreats are profound and life changing, and he is deeply loved by his students.
After Rinpoche passed, Khen Rinpoche met with His Holiness the Dalai Lama, asking for his advice about continuing Rinpoche’s projects, such as Awakening Vajra and many related activities including publishing, advancing the Five Branches of Study and many other activities envisioned by H. E. Chöden Rinpoche, and the Dalai Lama advised Khen Rinpoche to continue these activities as Rinpoche instructed.